Your Baby's First Checkup

Updated: May 4, 2018

Stocksy

Wondering when your baby will have his or her very first checkup with the pediatrician and what to expect? Here's what you need to know.

In the rush of excitement at meeting your newborn (and the flurry of activity in those first hours post-delivery), you might not realize your little one gets his very first well-baby checkup, including a physical exam, while you’re still in the hospital — either from your chosen pediatrician or a staff pediatrician.

What Tests Will My Baby Get in the Hospital?

Beyond baby’s very first test (the Apgar, which is a basic assessment of baby’s condition at one minute and again at five minutes after birth), in-hospital screens will include a hearing test, a blood test to help identify rare but sometimes serious conditions babies are sometimes born with (including ones that can be easily treated if they are diagnosed early), and a blood test to screen for jaundice (it will check bilirubin levels). A screening for congenital heart disease (heart disease that a baby is born with) is recommended, but not always offered. If you’re not sure if baby has had these screens or what the results were, make sure you ask.

Will My Baby Be Measured at the First Appointment?

Yes, your newborn baby will be weighed and his or her length measured. You'll be given an infant growth chart with all your newborn's measurements. Be sure to bring this to your first well-baby visit outside the hospital.

From the What to Expect editorial team and Heidi Murkoff, author of What to Expect the First Year. Health information on this site is based on peer-reviewed medical journals and highly respected health organizations and institutions including ACOG (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists), CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics), as well as the What to Expect books by Heidi Murkoff.

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What to Expect the First Year, 3rd edition, Heidi Murkoff and Sharon Mazel.